Olympic gold medal basketball co-captains LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Carmelo Anthony are honored before the Cavaliers play the Denver Nuggets in an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, in Cleveland. West and Robertson were co-captains of the 1960 United States Olympic gold medal basketball team. James and Anthony were the 2008 United States Olympic gold medal basketball team co-captains. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)— AP

Olympic gold medal basketball co-captains LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Carmelo Anthony are honored before the Cavaliers play the Denver Nuggets in an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, in Cleveland. West and Robertson were co-captains of the 1960 United States Olympic gold medal basketball team. James and Anthony were the 2008 United States Olympic gold medal basketball team co-captains. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
/ AP

James had his triple-double by the end of regulation, finishing with 43 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists, but Anthony matched him shot for shot, hitting the winner on a deep jumper over an outstretched James with 1.9 seconds left.

Denver's Kenyon Martin had 18 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, but the night belonged to two of the three top scorers in the league, who put on quite a display. Anthony played 48 minutes, adding seven assists and six rebounds for the Nuggets.

Denver had plenty of motivation to begin the second half of its season with a win.

Nuggets coach George Karl was on the bench despite battling nausea and headaches in recent days as a result of chemotherapy. Karl coached his first game since disclosing Tuesday he has neck and throat cancer.

James and Anthony entered first and third in the league in scoring, respectively, and didn't disappoint. The two combined to make just 4 of 20 shots in the first quarter, then spent the rest of the night hitting huge shots in each other's face.

The Cavaliers had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but James slipped while receiving the inbound pass and his 3-pointer rattled off the rim. An exhausted James, who played 47 minutes, missed his final four shots in overtime. His triple-double was the third of the season and 27th of his career. His 15 assists tied a career high.

Karl will likely miss some games and practices while undergoing a rigorous six-week treatment program of radiation and chemotherapy, but he accompanied the Nuggets on their two-game trip to Cleveland and Washington, where Denver plays on Friday.

Shaquille O'Neal had 18 points and seven rebounds and J.J. Hickson had 14 points for Cleveland, which made just 23 of 40 free throws.

On the day the Cavaliers introduced Antawn Jamison as their newest star, their old one was at his best. James' big night came with Oscar Robertson in attendance. Robertson, who averaged a triple-double during the 1961-62 season, was honored before the game along with Jerry West, James and Anthony as co-captains of U.S. Olympic gold medal basketball teams.

Robertson and West captained the Americans' gold medal in 1960, while James and Anthony were the co-captains in 2008.

The Cavaliers were a bit short-handed since they traded Zydrunas Ilgauskas on Wednesday and didn't yet have Jamison available, the player they received in return from Washington in the three-team deal. The Cavs introduced Jamison on Thursday, but he wasn't activated in time for the game. The team is hopeful he can be in the lineup Friday at Charlotte.

NOTES: Robertson believes James could average a triple-double for a season, as he did. "No doubt about it," he said. ... Denver reserve Chris Andersen walked to the locker room while holding his back in the fourth quarter. He did not return. ... Martin returned to the Nuggets after missing the final two games before the break with tendinitis in his left knee. ... Denver has won five of its last seven in Cleveland.